PARIS — Hundreds of French farmers mobilized approximately 350 tractors in a dramatic protest through central Paris on Tuesday, converging toward the National Assembly to voice vehement opposition to the impending EU-Mercosur trade agreement and demand urgent government action on declining agricultural incomes.
The convoy of agricultural vehicles, escorted by police units, created significant traffic disruptions along iconic Parisian thoroughfares including the Champs-Elysees before crossing the Seine River. The carefully coordinated demonstration targeted lawmakers during critical legislative sessions, emphasizing farmers’ growing frustration with economic pressures they attribute to both domestic policy failures and international trade negotiations.
Agricultural unions organizing the protest issued explicit demands for “concrete and immediate action” to protect France’s food sovereignty. The movement reflects escalating tensions across European farming communities facing multiple challenges including rising production costs, environmental regulations, and competition from imported goods.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon acknowledged the concerns during a national television appearance, promising imminent policy announcements to address the agricultural crisis. Despite the French government’s official opposition to the EU-Mercosur pact, the agreement appears poised for ratification during Saturday’s signing ceremony in Paraguay, supported by majority consensus within the European Union.
The controversial trade deal with Mercosur nations (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay) has drawn sustained criticism from European agricultural sectors who argue it would undermine local producers through increased market penetration of cheaper imported goods produced under different environmental and quality standards.